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GENEALOGICAL ADDRESS, 



GIVING A BKILF HISTOKY OF TUB 



rARISIIIONERS AND E0UNDE118 



FEDERAL STREET CHURCH, 

FROM 1715G TO 1803, 

AVITII THE 

NAMES OF THEIR DESCENDANTS, NOW PARIS IlIONEKi>, 

DKLIVEKED BEFORK THE 

LADIES' AND GEXTLEMEX'S ASSOCIATION 

OF THE PARISH, 
ISI A Y ^l '.) , 1 8 C. '2 . 

BY INI O O D Y D . COOK. 

OF NEW BURY PORT. 



rUBLISHED FOR SUCSCPJDERS. 



NEWBURYPORT: 
N\ ILMAM II. IIUSE & CO., PHIXIERS, 42 STATE STREET. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The following Address vras written, and delivered before an Association of the 
First Presbyterian Parish, without any design of literary display, but simply to 
pass an hour socially in review of the past. It was not contemplated by the author 
that a copy would be solicited for the press ; and under these circumstances he 
trusts that the reader will look with candor upon any errors that may occur. 

The names of individuals are not placed alphabetically, but in the J^nc of 
seniority ; and it was necessary, in delivering the address, to abridge the history 
of individuals. 

The names of the descendants of tlie old parishioners are given who belong to 

the parish, and no others ; there may be omissions, but tliey arc not intentional, 

as it was the design of the author to give a true history, irrespective of individual 

standing and character. 

Tin: AcTiiOR. 



ADDRESS. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : — 

One of the prominent features in the character of mankind, is 
a desire to become acquainted with the works and character of 
those who have preceded tliem on the stage of life. Everyplace 
which has had a bearing upon the weal or woe of individuals or 
conununities, is eagerly visited, and pilgrims — near and remote, 
wend their way to stand on tlie spot or obtain relics hallowed 
by the associations of the past. Hence Plymouth Rock, where 
our puritan fathers landed, and the various battle-fields in which, 
in later times, tlic battles for freedom have been fought and won, 
have become the theme of poets and orators, and household 
words in every family. We revere the places and people of the 
past, and this characteristic is developed among all people, civil- 
ized and barbarous. The Israelite, on whatever spot of earth 
he makes an habitation, is homeless, for far off in the land of 
Palestine are the graves of his fathers; every mountain, every 
valley is sacred in his memory ; every breeze waft to his cars 
the songs of Judea's daughters. Jerusalem, the Holy City, once 
the Jews' pride and glory, is inhabited by strangers. The Tem- 
I)lc, from whose dome once waved the symbol of their nationality, 
has given way for the Mosque of Omar, from whence float the 
crescent of the Mussulman, and all along the valleys and up to 
the mountain's summit, is borne upon the air the wail of desolate 
ones for the loss of their father-land. And yet ages have inter- 
vened since the light of their glory went out. So of the 



6 

aborigines of our own country : the rivers upon -vvliicli their 
fathers glided their frail canoe ; the hill-tops where their council 
fires gleamed along the sky ; the valleys Avhere they sounded the 
war-whoops or smoked the calumut of peace ; the forests where 
they hunted the wild beasts ; the margins of the rivers where 
they pitched their tents ; the water-falls, all and every thing 
around, is sacred in. their memories, because their ancestors once 
inhabited this land now lost to them. 

All around the circumference of the earth rise monumental 
shrines, emblems of past greatness, transmitting to future ages 
the character of those who have preceded them. Every country 
has a Thermopylas, every land heralds forth the achievements of 
their ancestry. So we, possessing the same feeling in kind, 
though not in degree, have assembled this evening to converse of 
the past, of our ancestors and their descendants, of those who 
reared this temple, and of those who in later times have wor- 
shipped here. Unlike the Jewish temple it remains and points 
its shaft to the skies, and its portals are still open for the de- 
scendants of its founders and all others who from choice would 
draw water from this spiritual fountain. True, the hand of the 
artizan has changed its ancient appearance, so that the early pro- 
prietors, were they permitted to visit it, would fail to recognize 
the work of their hands. Yet the music of the same bell still 
floats on the air, calling hither the worshippers, that sent forth 
its notes in their day. 

"With these preliminary remarks, by way of introduction, I 
will introduce to your notice the subject which has called us 
together this evening. I shall, in the first place, notice the 
organization of the church ; secondly, the erection of the build- 
ing and its interior, and some other matters connected with it ; 
thirdly, give a history of those who worshipped here in a genea- 
logical view. I design in this connection to make two classes : 
the first to embrace all the parishioners who have left descend- 
ants who are now parishioners, from the earliest gathering up 
to the year 1800 ; and the second class to 1830. 

This church was organized in 1745-6 ; the founders usually 
worshipped at the First Church, now the Eev. Mr. Thurston's. 
The tenets of the church were Armenianism — so called by those 
who seceded from the church ; they were instigated iu their ac- 



tion by WliitcGcld and others. In articles of faitli they adopted 
the Calvinistic doctrine as the safer to insure to them future re- 
wards ; they were called new lights, because their creed was in 
opposition to that inculcated by the previous system, — hence the 
separation. They did not depart in peace, however. They were 
called upon to pay their proportionate part of the expense in- 
curred by the First Parish ; and it became so grievous, after try- 
ing all the means in their power to throw off the burden, they 
finally addressed a letter to the King, setting forth their difficul- 
ties and asking for relief. The letter is as follows : 

COPY OF AN ORIGINAL LETTEK TO THE KING. 

"To the King's most excellent Majesty in council, the petition 
of the subscribers, being inhabitants of the town of Newbury, in 
your Majesty's Province of Massachusetts, in Newenglaui, hum- 
bly showeth 

That your petitioners. Loyal, and dutiful subjects to your Ma- 
jesty, who for the most part are heads of families, and conve- 
niently situated to attend the public worship of Almighty GOD 
Avhere they reside, which is the said town of Newbury, and have 
provided themselves with a minister, to their satisfaction, and 
maintain him at their own expense. 

Tiiat your petitioners, being of the profession of those called 
Presbyterians, do differ in form of church discipline, and divers 
other respects, of a religious nature, from their brethren of the 
Congregational or Independent profession, and have seperatcd 
from them. 

That as inhabitants of said Province your petitioners humbly 
api)rchcnd they are by Charter, indulged in equal Liberty of 
conscience, in worshipping God, according to the dictates there- 
of, in common with others, their fellow subjects, without con- 
troul, provided the same be not injurious to tncir neighbors, or 
dangerous to the .State. 

That not withstanding the previlegc granted by the said Char, 
tcr, there arc some laws of said Province, by which, not oniy a 
Provincial establishment is asserted, but all in every Parish by 
assessment, arc taxed toward the maintenance of their Ministers 
or Minister of each respective Parish, settled by said majority of 
i! ,. ir~.w ,t;vo 7\i.; J,;,,,. crs, and arc thereby constrained to pay 



to the support of such ministers, on whose ministry they cannot 
in conscience attend. That particularly your petitioners are by 
assessment, of the parishes they dwell in taxed toward the main- 
tenance of the ministers thereof, although dissenters, and for non- 
payment of such taxes, which tliey conscientiously scruple, are 
liable to severe persecutions, and some already honest and peac- 
able men, have been hauled to prison, and others daily in fear of 
the same, by the magistrates of the town, to the great hurt and 
damage of themselves and family, and if not timely prevented, 
will probably be attended with 3'et greater inconveniences. 
That your petitioners humbly apprehend it unreasonable, and in- 
convenient with equity, and justice, that they who are dissent- 
ers, by their profession, and by the laws of Great Britain, are 
allowed the exercise of their consciences, in public worship, 
obliged by the taxation act, should notwithstanding be liable to 
suffer, for their conscientious scruples, by the prosecution of their 
brethren, who also profess themselves dissenters from the public 
services of the church of England. 

That your petitioners did, or divers of them did in the year 
past, lay these their grievances in a petition respectively before 
the legislature, of said province, but without relief, their petition 
being rejected. 

Whereupon your petitioners most humbly pray that your Ma- 
jesty, would be graciously pleased to compassionate their suffer- 
ing case, (and it may be their fellow sufferers in said Province), 
which is for conscience sake, and in your great wisdom, to grant 
your petitioners such relief, in the premises, as to your Majesty 
shall seem meet. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Newbury in Newengland, 

The tenth day of February, 1749. 

Signed, 

JONATHAN GREENLEAF, 
RALPH CROSS, and others. 

You will perceive that this letter was written four years after 
they had formed a church organization ; and by this means, and 
others, they secured an exemption from further taxation in that 
parish. 



Tlic clmrcli fhcy erected was located on Norfolk street, now 
ni;j,li, a short distance, southerly, tVom the head of Federal. The 
founders of the church wei-e Messrs. Charles Fierce, Benjamin 
Pierce, Jonathan Phiincr, Moses Bradstreet. Daniel Noyes, Dan- 
iel Goodwin, Edward Priesbey, Major Goodwin, Sylvams Plain- 
er, Jolm Brown, Thomas Pike, Samuel Hale. Richard Hale, Dui- 
iel Wells, Cutting Pettengill, Benjamin Kni,t!,ht, Joseph Hidden, 
"William Brown, Nathaniel Atkinson, — nineteen in number. 
They received early accessions to their nnml)er, increasinu,- to 
such an extent that the little Imilding became too small for them, 
and means were devised to build tliepi-escnt buildinjr on Fcdei-al 
street. The first house was a small buildinir, and withal a jdaia 
one, built at a trifling expense ; consequently it became in a few 
years dikii)ida{ed, for in eleven years from the first organization 
of the society they had Imilt the present one ; and they must 
have gained largely in numbers to have built so large a building 
as this, — the largest church at that time on the continent of Amer- 
ica. Leaving the former building, we will now introduce yoa 
to the present house. The workmen commenced raising it July 
o(h, 1756, and finished raising it on the 7th, '' without," says a 
biographer, " an oath being heard, or an individual hurt." The 
tower, or belfry, was not erected till two years afterward.^. 
"While building, one of the workmen, Mr. Samuel Pettengill,fcll 
from the staging to tiiC ground, and was instantly killed. 

It will bo perhaps interesting to give some information in re- 
gard to its internal arrangements, previous to its repair in liS29, 
to those who had never seen it in its original state. The pulpit 
was placed on the north-east side of the house, more elevated than 
the present one, a sounding-board hung pendant from the wall 
over the head of the speaker, for the purpose, it was stated, of 
giving more volume to the voice; at the head of the pulpit stairs, 
in a recess, was a seat for the sexton, who invariably sat there at 
evening lectures, — whose office it was u e wicks of can- 

dles while burning, — for within our recollection this was the 
custom : nothing but tallow candles were used in the churches at 
that time. The house, by the light afforded from candles, gave 
a cheerless appearance; a sombre hue pervaded the entire 
■ Iiurch. Directly in front and attached to the pulpit, elevated 
Irom the main floor, was a space set apart for the Elders ; In 



10 

front of this were tlie Deacons' Seats, — and tliose officers occu- 
pied those seats. In the gallery, fronting the pulpit, were what 
wej'e called the singing men and singing women's seats ; the mu- 
sicians consisted of one who played on the violin, another on the 
bassoon, a third on the base viol and clarinet. At the earliest 
period, however, congregational singing prevailed, — the deacon 
leading off by reading a line or verse. On the north-west and 
south-east galleries were some six or eight consecutive slips, and 
even below, there were several on the broad aisle, designed for 
free seats. In the west corner a large pew was situated, board- 
ed up on each side, the front of the same, or as much as was ne- 
cessary to enable the occupants to see the speaker, was opened. 
This pew was designed for and occupied by the colored members 
of the society. The entrances to the galleries were on the 
north-west and south-east sides, directly over the pulpit as it now 
stands, and in rear of the organ. In the gallery, near the choir,. 
was a pew occupied by the children of the Asylum, so called, an 
association of ladies whose charities were bestowed upon fe- 
male orphans. A noble institution then, but latterly has become 
extinct, or nearly so. 

In the galleries were placed the wardens, who were a terror 
to the boys, — who, whatever their situation in life, would feel 
the effects of the warden's pole on their person, if their conduct 
did not correspond with the requirements of the Fathers of the 
church. The inside of the building has been reduced in length, 
as you will perceive ; when you enter on the north-west end, the 
entrance to the main floor was on School street, and as now, on 
both ends the pews might be termed square boxes, somewhat 
high, and ornamented by short pales or rounds, which caused 
some considerable noise, when by design or accident they were 
moved. The seats were lifted, (being hung with hinges) when 
the congregation arose for prayers, and this action was the cause 
of much disturbance, so much so that a printed request was 
finally attached to each seat, bearing this inscription : " Per- 
sons are requested to lift their seats and let them down without 
noise." Tiiere were no stoves in the churches till a late period ; 
generally every family would have in their pews one or more 
foot stoves, so called, to obtain a little warmth from them. This 
custom was attended with disadvantages, for they were being 



11 

pa?3cil from one member of the family to the other duriog ser- 
vice, thereby causing a constant motion all over the house. We 
remember perfectly well the effect of the cold upon us in the 
"winter season. In the thoughtlessness of youth we imagined our 
mortal part was more in danger of becoming frigid than the 
immortal of being lost. At length stoves were introduced. The 
vote of the parish in regard to stoves, is as follows : " Dec. 29, 
ISIO. Voted $100 to provide stove or stoves to warm the 
house." The subject of stoves was a matter to be taken under 
serious consideration, because it was an innovation upon a cus- 
tom which had from the earliest time existed. Besides there 
were many in the society who opposed this departure from the 
liabits of tlie fathers, and they must be conciliated. I remember 
])erfectly well, and many I doubt not of my audience remember, 
when they were first put up ; there was a large gathering to 
look upon them, and various remarks were made for and against 
their u.-e. They were not heated the first Sabbath, not being 
fully prepared. But one of the opposcrs was so affected by im- 
aginary heat, that he fainted and was carried out of i]iG church. 

The stoves the society intended to have purchased were ob- 
tained by Mr. Milton's society. They held their pari.-h meeting 
one day in advance of this parish, and sent a committee forth- 
with to purchase them. This action on the part of that society, 
created for a season unpleasant feelings ; for I will state that 
stoves of all descriptions were not, as now, in abundance. Fi- 
nally, the society procured two plain ones ; they were situated 
on the broad aisle, the pipe extending from the one near the pul- 
pit along the northeast side under the gallery, and then at the 
corner turning and running along the south-cast side, it found 
an outlet from the window ; the other, from the stove near the 
door, took an opposite direction, and thus it may be said the 
house was encircled by stove pipe. 

But a difficulty was experienced at limes : the stoves would 
not draw, the house would be filled with smoke, and refuse 
matter would gather in the pipe. Various means were adop- 
ted to clear them out ; several members suggested that a mem- 
ber of the feline race be introduced at the end near the stove ; 
'J.ie design was to let her clear a passage before lier, and at her 
i gross from bcr subterranean promenade she would carry before 



12 

her all the impurities which had been collected in the pipe and 
the same discharged into the street. Be that as it may, chimnej'a 
were introduced after a season, placed on the rafters, and 
the pi])e was led up to them. 

Before we enter into our second proposition, it will be perhaps 
interesting to note some two or three individuals who were con- 
sidered fixtures of the church. I shall not confine myself to par- 
ticular periods of time in this connection, as the characters I 
may introduce will be those who were somewhat advanced in 
life at the present century, 

Mr. Ayre preceded Mr. Putnam as sexton, but I can gather 
nothing of interest concerning Mr. Ayre during his ofticial ca- 
reer ; enough, however, I learn to show him a worthy man in 
his department. Dan'l Putnam succeeded Mr. Ayre, and held the 
ofl&ce of sexton for a long series of years ; till age in a measure 
destroyed his usefulness. He had in his employ Titus Pickering,a 
colored man of real Congo hue and shape. Titus, as he was 
called, was the bell ringer ; he also made all the graves for the 
dead of the parish, and was an important help in all matters 
connected with that department. After he had finished the 
ringing of the bell he would return to the cage, — for it had that 
appearance — in the corner, to which we have before alluded to. 
Titus, as niany will remember who now hear me, kept the keys 
of the gate of Common Pasture, and on no consideration would 
he open the gate until the clock sU'uck six times. Considering 
his position in society he was respected by the people. 

Capt. Nathaniel Stanwood succeed Mr. Putnam. He had 
been a master mariner, but had by some means been unfortunate 
in business ; he was an enemy to the boys, and adults, too, if 
they did not conform to what he conceived to be the right. He 
had never trodden in collegiate halls or academic bowers, to ob- 
tain an education, therefore his conversation did not partake of 
the refinements of the schools, but rather that of a man-of-war's- 
man. Morose in his disposition, he would blow, as he expressed it, 
minister and people, and everybody else, up to the moon, if they 
differed from him in matters of faith. He was the concentrated 
essence of Calvinism. The longer, and shorter catechism was 
too liberal to meet his views ; he was not so acceptable to the 
parish as he might have been, had it not been for these traits of 



13 

character. It wa? a custom in those days to oiTor np notc^ for 
prayers for going to sea and returning, for sickness, for health, 
for child-liiith, i^'c; and I have heard it stated, but I will not 
vouch for the truth of it. that an individual dislocated his jaw, 
and some of his friends immediately sent for a young physician, 
or rather an apology for one. now deceased ; upon his arrival he 
ordered a lai-gc supply of burdock leaves, to be applied to the 
patient's feet, to be renewed every fifteen minutes, to draw it 
back info position ; and when he left he would call, he said, in 
two hours to see wdiat eft'ect tiiey had. Calling at the appointed 
hour, he found, as a matter of course, his patient as he left him, 
and he suggested that a note bo offered in cliurch for a blessing 
upon his efforts. But the age of miracles had passed, and the 
individual would have renrained in that position, burdocks to 
the contrary notwithstanding, had not another physician been 
called, who immediately lelieved the sufferer. Continuous 
prayers were offered for one or more persons every Saljbath, as 
for instance : Hannah Brown (you may consider the name imagi- 
nary, if you please) desires prayers for being sick and weak ; the 
ne.xt Salibath for being sick, and the next for apparently drawing 
near her great and last change ; the next Sabbath there would 
be a little resurrection in her feelings, and the note would read 
sick and weak. Mr. Stanwood stated that the notes of many 
of this description were a mockery ; they only offered them, he 
said, to get the church to maintain them, and then came his usual 
expression, " they ought to be blown up to the moon." How- 
ever, with all his failings he meant right in his actions, and was 
jirovei-bially an honest man. 

Simeon Frazier was one of the wardens. It was deemed ne- 
cessary in those days to have perfect order in the church, and it 
■woidd be well to institute some action whereby order could be 
had in and around the churchosvat the present <lay. 

We find by the records, April 29. 181:^. Voted, that the stand- 
ing committee, with one or more constables, take care of the 
lioys on tiic Saljbath. One of the committee, on a certain Sab- 
batii, when one of the [larishioners had, througli weariness, fallen 
i>, his nasal organ being in full excn-ise, cried out with hi.s 
! lone of voice, "My friend you snore so loud I cannot sleep 
myself." Mr. Frazier esteemed 'it a groat honor to hold the po 



14 

sition of warden ; and many an unlucky boy lias felt the effects 
of the warden's pole on bis head. The pole was four feet nine 
inches in length ; the four feet was painted white, and the nine 
inches black ; the length was fixed by law, 

William P. Lunt succeeded Mr. Frazier. Mr. Lunt was 
somewhat eccentric. Many of those who now hear me will re- 
member him and his peculiarities. The position he held had an 
influence upon him to such an extent that for the time being he 
was in his own estimation a great man. He wore what was 
then called small clothes, his hair liberally powdered ; he exci- 
ted in the boys fear, and in most cases contempt and ridicule; 
hewas often the victim of misplaced confidence ; and although 
he filled his pew often with mischievous boys taken from 
the public seats, so that he could keep them quiet, neverthe- 
less the pole would often be missing ; by some means or other it 
had found a passage out of the window,and often when he returned 
home his family would find divers hieroglyphic characters on the 
back of his coat, which caused him much annoyance, and the re- 
sult was, many an innocent boy had to suffer from the effects of 
Mr. Lunt's anger. Notwithstanding, he was a good citi- 
zen, and respected in the community. 

Before I close this part of my remarks, I would state that the 
clergy of that day wore very large wigs, as you will notice in an- 
cient portraits; and in this connection I will relate an anecdote : 
On one occasion, Mr. Parsons had one of his brethren to assist him 
part of the day ; during the sermon Mr. Parsons fell asleep, and 
in tliat state his wig fell from his head to the floor ; it awoke 
him, and hastily putting it on, he got the back part of the 
wig on the front of his head ; when he arose to dismiss the meet- 
ing his ludicrous appearance caused a general laughter all over 
the house, much to the mortification of the gentleman. No one 
left the broad aisle in those days, till the minister left tlie jnilpit, 
and as he walked down the aisle he bowed to each indivi'dualj 
and they returned the compliment ; after he had passed, they 
came out of the pews and left the house. 

I have reached my third proposition, which was to give a lim- 
ited history of the early founders and their descendants, from 
the early organization of the church up to 1800. Among the 



15 

rinmbcr wlio organized the church, I find only tvro individuals 
who have left descendants who still belong to the parish, and in 
their case there is not a continuous succession. The reason why 
there are no more is to be attributed, in a great measure, to the 
settlement of Mr. Milton at the Temple street streetchurch, and 
also to the settlement of Dr. Dana over this parish. Many of 
the old parishioners left this society and joined the Temple and 
Harris street societies. 

The first is Major Goodwin. The true name of this gentle- 
man was Mogcr ; Moger was his mother's surname, and it was 
customary in tiiose times, when practicable, to name one of the 
children by the surname of tlie mother. His descendants have 
changed the name and called it ^lajor ; they have also inserted a 
''^ w " in tlie surname, and call it Goodwin, ghis gen- 
tleman was of the old Puritan stock, rigid to a fault in his 
religious views, quaint in his sayings and actions, utterly 
abhorring wrong-doing ; he held a place in the community for 
integrity truly enviable. I have said he was peculiar, and it 
may be said with truth that the people of that age were more or 
less peculiar. Mr. G.'s religion was to him of more import- 
anbe than wealth or honors ; he loved the house of God, and 
around the altar he would linger to get, as he expressed it, a por- 
tion of the " manna of heaven ;" and if, perchance, he did not 
get that particular kind of food he was disappointed, and ex- 
pressed hh disappointment in words. On one occasion, having 
heard a dull and prosy preacher, he exclaimed at the close of 
the sermon, " Peas in the bladder, — more noise than substance ; 
no food for my soul to-day." On another occasion, when he 
had received a large measure of spiritual food, he remarked to 
one of his brethren, " Turkey to-day." On another occasion, 
when the sermon failed to suit him, "Husks to-day." These rc- 
jnarks were uttered aloud, so the preacher might hear him. 
lie was not an exception in this respect. There were others 
who adopted the same method to express their likes and dislikes 
at the service. Mr. Goodwin lived to be nearly 88 years of 
age ; died in 1701 ; he leaves no children ; five of his grand 
children live at the lower i»art of the city. Two of his great 
grandclijldreu — Mr. Moses Goodwin, Jr., and Mrs. John Poor, 



16 

aiid several families of a lower generation, arc parishioners 
here. 

Samuel Hale. His descendants who are now members of the 
parish, are' Messrs. Enoch and Isaac Hale, and Miss Hannah 
Hale, grandchildren ; and two great grandchildren. The elder 
Bale was one of the foremost in sustaining the church and par- 
ish as long as he lived. He was drowned on the bar at the 
mouth of the Merrimac._ Fiis descendants are somewhat limit- 
ed in number compared with Mr. Goodwin's, the latter leaving 
descendants numbering nearly one thousand. Messi's. Good- 
win's and Hale's are the only rcpresentaiives of the original 
founders now worshippihg here, and that representation has not 
been continuous. 

Ealph Cross was not one of the original founders, but was 
admitted into the church the same year of its organization He 
was an important member of the society ; he gave freely to 
build the tirst church and the present one, boarded the minister 
the first three years gratuitously, and was ever ready to give 
liberally to sustain the society. He was a ruling elder for forty- 
one consecutive years, and filled many offices in the; parish. Ho 
furnished the sacramental utensils from his private dwelling till 
the society was able to procure them elsewhere by purchase. 
(And in this connection 1 would state that the first full commun- 
ion service owned by the society, was manufactured for George 
Greenleaf, Esq., in 1820, at an expense of $350.) The first Bible 
the parish owned was a gift from him. He received two valuable 
copies by way of friends in London ; he gave one to the society, 
the other is in the possession of his great grandson, Ralph C. 
Huse, Esq., whose name he bears. The Bible he gave to tire so- 
ciety is, as you will perceive, in good preservation, as I now ex- 
hibit it to you. It is not in use; its successor was presented to the 
society by Moses Pettengill, Esq., and this one is kept on deposit 
in the archives of the parish. Mr. Cross was evidently an active 
man : becoming early imbued with the doctrine of Calvin, and 
others of like faith, he carried with him through along life those 
tenets, to his dying hour. The church mourned his loss, — one 
of their pillars had been removed. A. sermon was preached on 
the occasion of his death by Rev» Mr. Murray., setting forth his 



17 

virtues. There was a liymn composed for tlie occasion ; I ■will 
recite one verse. You will perceive the bard has not given us 
the beauties of poetry with old Homer, or the bards of modern 
times : — 

"With one consent v\-c all lament 

The death of Elder Cross ; 

Now he is gone, 

ills work is done, 

To our great grief and loss." 

Our bard has given in brief the feelings of the society oa the 
death of Mr. Cross. Mr. C. left many descendants, some re- 
motely connected still worshipping here : Capt. Henry Cook, 
Miss Hawley, Mrs. Sarah Cross Lunt, wife of Mr. Edward 
Lunt, and Miss Ellen Huse. The Huse famines are nearly 
related to him, and they and his otlier descendants have, by 
their enterprise and other traits of character, indicated the 
soundness of the original stock. 

Jonathan Greenlcaf. His representative in the society is 
Mrs. Samuel T. DeFord, — a grand-daughter of Mr. Greenleaf. 
He held the same situation in respect to the society as Mr. 
Cross ; he was in fact an active man not only in the church but 
in the political world. An eminent patriot, he devoted his en- 
ergies in upliolding those principles which culminated in the war 
of the Revolution. He was a ship carpenter by trade ; at his 
yard several ships were built for the Scots, who came here and 
tarried till they were finished. Notwithstanding he followed 
mechanical pursuits, he was a member of the Continental Con- 
gress, and also one of the first to enter Charlestowu after its 
evacuation by tlie Britisli ; and so all along he zealously defend- 
ed the interests of his country and the church. He leaves many 
descendants who revere his memory. Geo. Greenlcaf, Esq., is 
his grandson, and witli the demise of this gentleman the name 
will become extinct in this city. There v.as an uninterrupted 
succession from Mr. Greenlcaf till within a few years, when his 
grandson, above named, left the society. I would state in 
this connection, that the latter took an active part in the i)arish ; 
belabored zealously, with others, to bring about the alterution 
which took place in 182!) , and as the wanderer returns to the 
home-hearth, and the bird to her home-nest, so we expect the 
latter gcutk'iiiau will return and find shellvr, iu the decline of 



18 

life, beneath the altar where his baptismal vows are registered. 

Eleazer Johnson is represented by a grand-daughter, Miss 
Dolly Johnson, and farther removed, by Mr. Nicholas Johnson. 
Mr. Johnson was an active man in the parish ; he was also a 
patriot ; he could not endure the iron hand of despotism, there- 
fore he could not submit to those oppressions which the mother 
country inflicted upon tlie colonies. The tax on tea was so 
obnoxious to his feelings that he became a terror to all the grand- 
mothers, maiden ladies, and the sisterhood generally, for they 
were afraid to use the beverage where he could hear of it. So 
universal was the custom of tea-drinking, the ladies at that time 
when they went visiting carried with them little drinking ves- 
sels. Mr. Johnson, by his exertion, stirred up revolt in the 
breasts of all with whom he came in contact, in order to prepare 
them to throw ofl' the chains of despotism ; and well did he suc- 
ceed. He has left descendants in the city, all men of good 
standing in society. 

Charles Cook. This gentleman was one of the earliest pro- 
prietors of this building. I shall abridge ray remarks in regard 
to him, he being my great grandfather ; suffice it to say he was 
an active man in the parish. His son, my grandfather, was one 
of the first, if not the first child baptised in this building ; and 
an unbroken succession has been preserved from the earliest to 
the present day ; and this is the only case now manifest in the 
society. Three of his grandchildren are still parishioners, viz : 
Messrs. John and Charles Cook, and Mrs. Sarah C. Niles ; and 
four great grandchildren, viz : Capt. Henry Cook, Mr. Benja- 
min Lunt, Miss Susan Niles, and myself. 

Jacob Boardman. His representatives are Mrs. Richard Pike, 
— his daughter, and Mrs. Isaac H. Boardman, his grand-daugh- 
ter. Mr. Boardman was a prominent member of the society ; he 
held the office of clerk for the parish and proprietors thirty con- 
secutive years ; at the end of that time he resigned, receiving 
the vote of the society for the faithful discharge of the duties of 
his office. His records were admirably kept, written in a plain 
hand, and easily read. 

Richard Pike leaves as his representatives his widow, and his 
daughter, Mrs. Isaac H. Boardman. Mrs. Pike was the daugh- 
ter of Mr. Boardman, to whom we have referred. Mr. Pike 



19 

was an eflicient member of the parish ; he was a large proprie- 
tor, aud was often on various committees, rendering at all times 
essential service in furthering the welfare of the parish. 

John Wood is represented by his daughter, ]\Iiss Eunice 
"Wood. The latter is one of the oldest members of the church 
and society. 

Francis Ilodgkiss is represented by ^Mrs. Nathan Poor, being 
a great grandchild of Francis. 

Philip Coombs is represented by Miss Lydia Coombs, — she be- 
ing the daughter of John, the son of Philip. The Coombs fam- 
ily emigrated from England. The father of the one I have 
named was held in high repute at home. Shakspeare, in his 
works, dedicated an ode to him on account of his virtues. Ilis 
son was the father of John and "William Coombs ; the latter 
gentleman was an eminent merchant of this city. Having the 
means, he employed them in works of charity and })ublic im- 
provement, lie was considered a valuable member of the com- 
munity, and particularly of this parish ; his name is frequently 
mentioned on the records, showing his exertions in behalf of the 
parish. It is said he had no enemies ; that being so, he must 
have had traits of character which few possess ; his case must bo 
an exception to the rule, inasmuch as it is a fact and undeniable, 
that an active, live man is surrounded with foes, caused by envy, 
or else the individual has sinister motives, which prompt him to 
become an enemy to his neighbor. 

Mr. Coombs was peculiar in his dress ; he usually wore a 
three-cornered hat, buff coat and vest, small clothes, with large 
knee buckles and large Ijuckles on his shoes, altogether imitat- 
ing the old English gentleman, lie was the first to introduce 
the umbrella into use in this city ; the people were amazed at 
the exhibition when he and his wife first appeared in the street 
with one over their heads. Mr. Coombs left a large family, and 
most of them have been connected with this parish. Ilis only 
representative in the i)arish at this time is Mr. Ebune/.cr AVhcel- 
wright, his grandson. 

Ijcnjamin llarrod. Ilis representatives now living, who Ijc- 
long to the parish, are Misses Phebe and Sarah llarrod, Mrs. 
Ebenezer Stedman, and Mrs. Green Sanborn. Miss Phebe llar- 
rod is one of the oldest members of the church. This family, 



20 

both male and female branches, have invariably assisted and ex- 
erted themselves for the benefit of the society. 

Nathan Poor. His representatives are Mrs. Frederick Moore, 
and Mrs. Isaac Poor. This gentleman died suddenly in the 
church, during service, on the Sabbath. 

Isaac Johnson's representative is a grand-daughter, — Miss 
Mary Johnson, and the children of Isaac 3d, viz : Mrs. Joshua 
Turner, Mrs. Jonas Ilutchins, and Mr. Wm. 11. Johnson. This 
family has kept up their relation with this society for a long se- 
ries of years ; and Mr. Wm. H. Johnson has followed in 
the pathway of his grandsire, in making himself useful in the 
parish, both in a pecuniary and moral view. The elder Johnson 
was for many years a ruling Elder in tlie church. 

Joshua Toppan, This gentleman's family was somewhat large, 
nevertheless his representatives in this parish are but two fam- 
ilies, viz : Mr. Joshua Toppan and the family of Dr. Wyman. 

Eleazer Pettengill is represented by his son, Deacon Moses. 
The latter gentleman has for the last thirty-five years taken an 
active part in the affairs of the church and society. At the time 
of repairing the church in 1829, he was one of the leaders in sus- 
taining the majority who were in favor of it, against a large 
minority. The Bible now used in the desk, was his gift. In- 
deed his zeal for the interest of the church has been so marked, 
we are led to the conclusion that he had somewhat the feelings 
of Israel's bard, when he exclaimed, " One thing have I desired 
of the Lord, that I might dwell in the House of the Lord for- 
ever." 

Moses Kimball is represented in person, and by his family. 
Mr. Kimball lias been a parishioner for the last sixty-six years ; 
lie early took an active part in the singing department, in con- 
nection with Dr. Dana and Mark Cofiin, Esq. In 1803 they 
opened a school for new beginners ; at the first opening they 
had a school of over one hundred scholars. The object of 
their teaching was to prepare a choir for the society. This 
arrangement occupied their attention for six montlis, and their 
labors were gratuitous. 

William Todd is represented by Mr. Samuel Todd and Mrs. 
Mary Kitching, they being children, — and by Mrs. Stephen 
Bray, Mrs., Geo. Colby, Mrs. Joseph Creasey, Messrs. William 



21 

Kitching William Todd, as graiidcliildren. These families 
have been parishioners here for many years. 

Hugh Pritehard is represented by his grandsons, Dca. William 
Pritchard, and Capt. Thomas Pritehard ; and well has Deacon 
William represented the ancient stock, lie has held the office 
of superintendent of the Sabbath School of the parish for twen- 
ty-one consecutive years ; besides he has been parish and propri- 
etors' connnittec for many years, and in all positions of honor 
and trust he has gained the ajjproljation of the parish. 

Nathaniel Noyes. Uis descendants are Mrs. James Post, 
Mrs. William Thurlow, and Mrs. Caleb Stickney. They are 
grandchildren of Mr. Noyes. 

Enoch Lunt is represented by his grandchildren, Mrs. Jere- 
miah Luut, Mrs. Charles B. Qucstrom, Mrs. George W. Knight, 
and by the widow of Benjamin, son of Enoch. The Lunt family 
have steadily adhered to the doctrines pronmlgated by the foun- 
ders of the church, 

Stephen Poor is represented by IShs. Thomas Moody, a daugh- 
ter of Mr. Poor, and by four grandchildren, viz : Captains Isaac 
A. and Stephen P. Bray, and Misses Mary and Rebecca Moody. 
]\rr. Poor resided at Oldtown neck, so called, a distance of four 
miles from the church, yet he was a constant attendant with his 
family upon the church service. 

Thomas Boardman is represented by Hon. Isaac U. Board- 
man, and Mrs. Joseph B. ^Morss. The son has followed the 
father in being an eCQcient member of the parish, in liberality 
and position. As one of the parish committee, and other com- 
mittees, he has no rival in the parish. 

Alexander Caldwell. His representatives arc Mr. Abncr 
Caldwell, Dea. James, and Miss Sarah Caldwell. The two lat- 
ter have long Ijcen members of this church. Dea. James, be.-ides 
the office of deacon, has held other oCQces in the parish to accep- 
tance. He has adopted Paul the Ajjostle as a pattern in his 
religious life. Still on one point he differs : tlie parisli regret it 
inasmuch as lie leaves no Elisha upon whom the mantle of the 
Elijah will fall. 

Silas Pearson's descendants are Mrs. Benjamin Leigh, a daugh- 
ter, and Messrs Hall J. Leigh, Silas Pearson Leigh, and Miss Sa- 
rah Leigh, grandchildren, and the widow of Mr. Pearson. Mrs. P. 



22 

has long been a member of this church and parish. She is still 
living at the age of nearly 91 years. 

William Gerrish is represented by Mr. Paul G. Lunt, Mrs. 
Philip Bolman, and Mrs. Philip H. Blumpey. Mr. Gerrish was 
a sterling man ; his honesty was unquestioned. He was for 20 
consecutive years the postman between this town and Boston. 

John Stickney's descendants are Mrs. Jacob Stickney, and the 
children of the latter. The latter gentleman is one of the old- 
est members in the parish. 

Jonathan Morse. His successor is elder James Morse, the 
oldest elder in the church. The Morse family were among the 
earliest parishioners, but have not kept up a continuous relation. 

Jeremiah Haskell's representative is Mrs. Edward Kimball. 
The Haskell family have for many generations had a character 
for piety, and the stock, in this respect has not become deterio- 
rated. 

George Donnells still worships here. He commenced as a 
parishioner in 1796, — a period of G6 years, and during all these 
years he has seldom absented himself from church on the Sab- 
bath. Mr. Donnells, though far advanced in life, exhibits the 
vigor of middle age. Mrs Donnells, the wife of George, was 
the grandchild of Mr. Samuel Pettcngill, who fell from the tower 
when building, and was killed, of w^hom I have spoken previous- 
ly. Mr. James S. Pettengill and Capt. David Pettengell, also of 
this parish, are his descendants. 

Caleb Haskell's representatives are Mrs. Mary Pettingill, wife 
of elder Moses, and the children of the late Mr. Caleb Haskell. 
This branch of the Haskell family have endeavored to keep the 
faith " once delivered to the saints." 

Moses Kimball is represented by Mr. Moody Kimball, and the 
children of the latter. This family have been many years parish- 
ioners in this society. 

Enoch Titcomb is represented by his grandson, Mr. Albert C. 

Titcomb. Mr. Titcomb was a valuable member of the parish, 

and if appearances indicate anything as to action, we should 

j udge the mantle of the elder had fallen upon the younger, from 

the interest he takes in the affairs of the society. 

Paul Titcomb is represented by Mrs. Emeline Chapin, she be- 
ins; a daughter of Paul. 



23 

Charles Chase is represented by liis daughter, Mrs. Nathan 
Brown, and the family of the latter. 

The whole number of families who are now represented who 
were parishioners up to 1800, is 34 ; two only arc represented 
from the organization of the church on Norfolk street. My last 
proposition is to give the names of the descendants of those wlio 
arc still living, from 1800 to the time of repairing the church in 
1829-30. 

Daniel Bartlctt is represented by his widow, Mrs. Achsali 
Bartlett, and his daughter, Mrs. Emily Dow. Mr. Bartlctt was 
formerly a ruling elder in the church, and held various other po- 
sitions in the parish. 

David Ilart has long been a member of the society and church, 
and though advanced in years, is still enabled to attend meetings 
held on the Sabbath. 

Paul Simpson. His descendants who are now parishioners, are 
his sou, Capt Thos. C. Simpson, and daughter ,Mrs. Roljcrt Pear- 
son. Capt. Simpson was an elder in the church, and held other 
positions in the parish ; he was strong in his belief of tlic doc- 
trines taught from the desk, and an habitual attendant on all the 
meetings for religious purposes. 

John X. Cushing is represented by his widow, and children, 
viz : Messrs. Caleb, John N., and AVilliam Cushing. His son, 
the Hon. Caleb Cushing, lias been a parishioner over thirty 
years, — a longer period than his father. The elder Cushing was 
a member of the church, was often a member of committees 
raised by the society for various purposes, and in several cases 
was liberal in a pecuniary view, for the benefit of the parish. 
His son John is an active member, holding for several years the 
position of parish and proprietors' committee. 

William Graves' representatives are Captains William, Alex- 
ander and Edward Graves, and Mrs. Albert C. Titcomb. The 
elder Graves was a punctual attendant at the Sabbath meetings, 
when at home, and was useful in furthering the interests of the 
parish. Ilis son William is an active member, holding various 
ofiices in the society. 

Ezra Lunt was formerly a deacon and an elder of the church 
and held other offices, and was ever ready to sustain the interests 
of the parish. II is descendants, who are now parishioners arc, 



24 

Capt. William P. Lniit 'and Elder Edward Lunt, Mrs. ITenry 
Cook and Mrs. Alexander Graves. The mantle of tlic father 
lias fallen upon his son Edward, in the interest he takes in the 
society. 

Samuel Nelson is represented in the parish by his son, Mr. 
John B. Nelson. Mr. Nelson was one of the elders of the 
church, was much interested in the society's welfare, and was in 
every sense an honest man. 

Jeremijah Nelson is represented Ly his widow and children- 
Mr. Nelson occupied a prominent place in the community. He 
represented this district in Congress, was well acquainted with 
financial matters, and was a valuable citizen. 

Daniel Swett is represented by Mrs. Samuel Bragdon, his 
daughter. Mr. Swett led the singing in the church, had a fine 
musical voice, and was, therefore, popular in the parish. 

Samuel Bragdon is represented by his widow and four chil- 
dren, Misses Harriet, Mary, Caroline and Sarah, all of whom 
are much attached to the societ3^ 

Benjamin Gould is represented by Miss Hannah F. Gould. 
Miss Gould has long been a member of the church. She is also, 
as you are aware, no ordinary disciple of the Muses. 

Charles W. Story is represented by his widow and children. 
Miss Augusta and Lydia Story. His immediate descendants arc 
not wanting in those things which render them subjects of love 
to the poor and destitute. 

William S. Dodge's representatives are his widow, and four 
children, viz : Mr. W. S. Dodge, Mrs. John E. Remick, Miss 
Elizabeth A. and Abigail P. Dodge. This family have for years 
worshipped in this church. 

Peter Post is represented by Mr. James Post, Capt. Edward 
Lee, Mrs. Edward Lee, Mrs. Wm. Pike, and Mrs. David Brook- 
ings. 

John Jolmson is represented by his grand-daughter, Mrs. 
George C. Ireland. Mr. Johnson was a members of the church 
and parish for many years. 

Samuel Rolfe, long a parishioner with different branches of 
the original family. His descendants are Elder Ebenezer Rolfe 
and Mrs. John T. Loriug. The latter gentleman is an efli' 
cient member of the church and society. 



Tliomas Patten is represented by his daugliter Miss ITan-iet 
Patten. Tiic children of ]Mr. Patten have all been members of 
the chnrch. 

John Iliddon's successor in the chnrch is Miss Susan TTidden. 

Benjamin Clannin is represented by the family of his son, Mr. 
Samuel Clannin. 

Paul Plumer. This ji-entleman's descendants are the wido\v of 
TN'illiam and his children, viz : ^Messrs. "William and Henry and 
Jkliss Judith. The Plumer family have Ijcen more or less active 
members of the church. 

Benjamin Toppan is represented by Mr. Josepli Toppan and 
his sister Ann. The son and daughter have been members of 
this church many years. The former has held tlie office of clerk 
of the parish the past 12 years, and his record in that depart- 
ment has elicited praise. 

John Coffin's representatives are ]\re;srs. Joseph M., William 
B., Bcnaiah and John Coffin. 

Edmund C. Greenleaf's representatives are Mr. Jeremiah 
Greenleaf, Mrs. James Norton, and their families. 

Peter Lauford has been for many years a member of the parish 
and church. Mr. Lanford in former days took an active part in 
the interest of religion and church matters ; he was one of the 
earliest teachers of a Sunday school iu the lower part of the 
city before that system was adopted into the societies ; and 
although now aged, his natural vigor is not abated. Ilis chil- 
dren are mostly members of the church and parish. 

John Akerman leaves as his representatives his widow, now 
one of the aged members, his son — Mr. John Akerman, Mrs. 
Eliza A. Greenleaf and Miss Ruth Akerman. 

Nathaniel Gerrish is represented by Miss Elizabeth Gerrish ; 
tlic latter has been a useful member in the church and Sabbath 
school. 

Samuel Brookings is represented by his sons, Messrs. Samuel 
and Albert Brookings, and Mrs. G. W. Manning and their fam- 
ilies. 

John Scott is represented by his daughter, ^liss Mary Scott. 
The latter is beloved by Sabbath school children. 

Benjamin Davis is represented by his widow. He was in ev- 
ery respect a sterling man. 



26 

Thomas Pritchet's descendants are Mrs. Frederick Moore, his 
daughter, and Mr. George W. Clark, and Mrs. Adeline Perkins, 
grandchildren. 

William Jaqucs is represented by his son, Capt. Benjamin H. 
Jaques and his family. Mr. ^Jaques was a constant attendant 
on all the meetings. 

Rufus Smith was succeeded by his son Rufus ; the latter was 
a useful member of the society. The widow and children of the 
latter still belong to the society. 

Benjamin Appleton is represented by his widow and daughter. 

Samuel Newman. His representatives are his widow, and his 
daughters — Mrs. Mary Plumer and Miss Phebe Newman. Mr. 
Newman was an active business man. 

George Colby is still a parishioner, together with his family. 

Walter Todd is represented by his widow, and two daughters 
— Miss Sophia Todd, and Mrs. George Sweetser. 

Johnson Lunt is represented by his son Benjamin, and the 
family of the latter. 

Seward Lee has for many years been a parishioner here, and 
for a few years a member of the church. 

The whole number under this division, is thirty-six. 

These will embrace all those who have come to my knowl- 
edge, up to the period designed in the introduction. In the ab- 
sence of records from 1740 to 1764, I have labored under a want 
of material which those records would have furnished me ; and 
in this connection allow me to state that there is a wrong doing 
somewhere ; evidently the records arc in some one's possession. 
A few years since they were taken, and although repeated calls 
have been made for them, they still are not forthcoming. We 
trust tliey will be returned by the [individual who has them, 
without delay. 

There are parishioners who have belonged to the society many 
years, who are now aged, but could not be classed under my ar- 
rangement, viz : Capt. Nathan Plumer, Capt. Elias Pike, Messrs. 
Nathaniel Coffin, David Brown, Foster Smith, and Benjamin 
Leigh. There are are several who have been parishioners near- 
ly a generation, viz : Messrs. Moses M. Merrill, Charles B. 
Questrom, Charles Adams, Joseph Lunt, William Kitchiug, Ste- 
phen Bartlett, Capts. Samuel Brown, Thomas Howard, George 
W. Knight, Jeremiah Lunt. These and others will be treated of, 



27 

probaljly by Moses Pettcngill, Esq., who I understand is to fol- 
low me in giving to this association an ecclesiastical history of 
the church and society, at a future period. 

My design has been to trace the male re[)rcscntativc3, as 
far as practicable, and it is possible that some have been 
omitted, although it Avas my. desire to give an impartial 
account of all the parishioners, under the programme adop- 
ted. 

The nuftibcr of children baptised in this parish, as far as can 
be ascertained, is nearly GUOO, from the organization of the 
church to the present hour. They were considered as children 
of the church, Ijccoming such by the acts of their parents or 
guardians. The number thus baptised is equal to one-half of 
the citizens of this city. "What a multitude 1 And could a map 
be drawn of the career of each one of those individuals, and of 
the fate of each. "What a theme for study, for the political ccou- 
omist,the philanthropist, and Christian. But their records are re- 
moved from our sight; above they are registered, where the tooth 
of time cannot destroy them. And where is this army of bap- 
tised ones who came on to the stage of action, fulfilled their part, 
and then passed away for others. Few, very few of this multi- 
tude remain. Do you enquire where they are? go read the sculp- 
tured marble on yonder hill. There lies the babe who has re- 
ceived the baptismal waters on his brow, and from the font had 
been carried home to gladden, for a brief season, the homo 
hearth, and thence taken by the death angel to grow up in another 
state to the full measure of spiritual age. And then the youth 
and maiden, blooming into manhood and womanhood, and into 
riper years, to old age — all leaving their loves and hates, their 
joys and sorrows behind them. Nor does the sculptured marble 
give the record of all, — for all around the circumference of the 
earth, where human feet have trod, have the sons and daughters 
of the parish found a last resting place. And down in unfath- 
omable caves of ocean— the sea-weed their winding sheet, and 
the moaning ocean billows tlicir funeral dirge — lie others. 
There arc those who gained renown on the battle-fields of their 
country, where the oppressor's jjower was felt, — who helped rear 
the tcnqjle of liberty, surmounting the dome with the glorious 
flag of stars and stripes, bequeathing to us a legacy of surpassing 



28 

Taliie ; — receiving tlic baptismal waters on their brow here, 
they encountered the baptism of blood elsewhere ; for their 
descendants, many of them, passed from that baptism into a 
higher state of existence. And so, patriots and sages, you un- 
folded to the breeze the emblem of liberty, and sent forth your 
hosannas when victory perched upon it. The echo of your 
song has come down to us, and when fratricidal hands were 
raised to destroy what you had created by your blood and treas- 
ure, your descendants hearing the moan of the eagle, gath- 
ered from the mountains and the 'valleys, from all the high- 
ways and by-ways wherever they had wandered, and grasped that 
flag of stars, and under it they have marched from victory to 
victory ; and it shall wave, bidding defiance to all enemies from 
within and without. It shall wave, and from] it shall scintilate 
rays of light, so that the oppressed of all nations shall be led by 
it to sliake off the fetters of oppression and become freemen. 
Thus shall your baptism be of lasting good to the race. 

The church members now living who date tlieir profession 
prior to 1830, number 30, and their aggregate ages amount to 
3049 years ; their average age is 68 years. Miss Eunice Wood 
is the oldest church member. She has been a communicant for 
68 years. 

Of the sextons belonging to the parish, (with the exception of 
the present incumbent) there is but one, and that is Mr. John 
Akerman He long held that office with acceptance to^ the 
parish. 

It was formerly a custom to make an outcry in the church of 
an intention of marriage between parties. As soon as the con- 
gregation were seated in the morning service, the town clerk 
would rise in his place and give public notice to that effect. Tiie 
law made it obligatory upon the clerk thus to do. Mr. William 
AVork acted in that capacity for several years. His widow is 
still a member of the parish. Mr. Work was succeeded by Mr. 
John Fitz, the author of " Presbyterianism Unmasked." Mr. F. 
conceived he had been injured by the church in some matters, 
hence the book in question. Mr. Fitz was the last clerk that 
made an outcry, at least as far as this parish was concerned. 
The act was repealed about that time, and the present law sub- 
stituted. It was well, perhaps, to repeal the law, nevertheless it 



29 

had a bad effect on tlic .young people, (you will understand me 
as alluding to the female |)ortion of the congregation) for it was 
always oltservcd that in the morning a larger portion of that 
class of our community was in attendance at the earliest mo- 
ment. There were fewer absentees and less languithing on so- 
fas wiili violent headaches, or any one of the thousand ills which 
afQict our modern ladies. Strict attention was noticed among 
all the unmarried ones to the speaker's voice. They were anx 
ious to know who were to be consecrated by the sacrament of 
marriage ; all reasonable enough to be sure. After the speaker 
had finished, a casual observer would see mirrored forth on their 
countenances their pleasure or pain. But I am getting on to 
dangerous ground, and will proceed no farther under this head. 
Of the character of the early ministers I might say much, but 
my time is too limited to go into detail in regard to them. I 
cannot forbear giving a few anecdotes, however. Mr. Parsons 
was somewhat waggish. On one occasion the parish had hauled 
to his door his year's supply of wood ; the committee informed 
him what they had done. After looking at it he enquired if 
they expected him to burn it long ; a broad hint to them that a 
sawyer's labor was necessary at their expense. On a certain 
•washing day he was notified that dinner was ready ; he came to 
the table and enquired if that was the dinner ; and being an- 
swered in the aflirmative. he stated he would step out to one of 
the parishioners and dine. Ilis wife requested him to ask a 
blessing on the repast before he went. " It is not worth a bless- 
ing," said he, and left the house. His wife partook somewhat of 
his character. A gentleman called one day at the parsonage for 
Mr. Parsons. Mrs. P. was busy in the garden at the clothes 
line ; the gentleman enquired if Mr. P. was at iiome ; she re- 
plied in the negative. Is Mr. Parsons' lady at home ? no, but 
his washerwoman is. Mr. Murray was of the same character. 
His son John had resolved to be a law3-er. " Jack," said he, "do 
not be a lawyer, for if you do I shall never meet you in heaven." 
Ue attended a funeral in an old house, and the large gathering 
settled the floor into the cellar. After they had rescued all as 
they thought, some one asked ^Fr. Murray, who was in the cellar, 
if all had come up. No, there's a million here yet. A lady by 
the name of Million had not come up. Pr. Daua had a great 



30 

measure of tlie same spirit ; but for want of time I can add no 
more under this head. 

Could we to-day go back to those early meetings, and witness 
the zeal with which the fathers and mothers entered into the 
services of the sanctuary, how insignificant would our worship 
appear. It is true they worshipped not by square and com- 
pass — but from their inmost souls — the author of their existence. 
Crude were their notions but from the heart went forth aspira- 
tions of praise ; they practiced what they preached. I am aware 
that many had a zeal not according to knowledge, for in many 
things they erred. I would not intimate that they were perfect 
men and women, but with all their failings there glowed from 
their souls a love for their Creator surpassing everything else. 
Unquestionably there are before me those who remember the 
manner the Sabbath was observed by the members of the church, 
and others. I might give illustrations of their course of action 
during what they considered holy time : commencing on Satur- 
day night at sundown, and ending Sabbath evening at the same 
hour ; but you are familiar with them in this respect, therefore I 
will not dwell upon it. Their practice, however, begat intoler- 
ance, inasmuch as they looked upon all who did not follow in 
their path, as out of the pale of Christianity. I have a case in 
point on my mind, which happened when I was a boy, and the 
impression I then received has never been effaced. It was a cus- 
tom in earlier times, on the death of a clergyman, for the pas- 
tors of the various churches to attend the funeral as pall bearers. 
At the funeral of Mr. Williams, the successor of Dr. Dana, all 
the clergy in town assisted, and as a matter of course gave a 
Sabbath of labor gratuitously, in succession, to the society. Dr. 
Andrews, the pastor of the Pleasant street church, one of the 
ofl&ciating clergymen, preached in course. In the morning the 
Dr. gave his hearers an eloquent discourse, — so said the elder 
ones. One of the good sisters of the church, whose zeal had 
outrun her knowledge, was carried captive by the thrilling elo- 
quence of the Dr ; for when he depicted the entrance of her 
dear minister, as she called him, into the land of blessedness, the 
old lady was all aglow with love for the speaker. When the 
services were finished, the old lady came out and made enquiries 
of another sister who that dear godly man was that preached. 



31 

Do yon not know, replied the individual ; no indeed, — who was 
he ? AVhy, that was Dr. Andrews. What, she exclaimed, in 
perfect amazement, that ungodly Unitarian. I have lost a day. 
What a shame it is our pulpit should be so disgraced ; I will not 
hear him this afternoon, not I. So to the old lady the services 
were lost. 

Nevertheless, wc to-day worship in the old church where they 
worshipped ; and if we have been and are more liberal tlian our 
ancestors, it is by a more intellectual view of things. But they 
have passed away ; the old church — the work of their hands, re- 
mains ; they reared it in troublous times. Then they were un- 
der a monarchical form of government ; the locks of the found- 
ers of the society became white with age, and their children 
were taking their places. Then came oppression from the mother 
country ; the members of the parish raised their voices against 
it. The fathers and mothers bade their sons go forth to 
battle under God ; you will be victorious, said they. A whisper 
was heard of freedom, anon in thunder tones came the Declara- 
tion of Independence ; it leaped along the valleys up to the 
mountain fastnesses ; it penetrated the wilderness home of the 
settler. They rushed to arms ; the minister at the altar fired 
the breasts of the hearers. They fought, — they conquered, 
while many of the sons of the parish ascended, amid carnage and 
blood, from the battle-field to glory. Others came home to l)0^7 
the knee around the altar, and scut up thanksgivings to the God 
of battles for deliverance, during all those bloody years. The 
old church remained. And so all along, from tlic beginning to 
the present time, — amid wars, and distresses, and famines, — amid 
Echisms, cnvyings and jealousies, — amid constant changes in fam- 
ilies and neighborhoods, — still gather around its altar a goodly 
number of worshippers. The blasts of a century, earthquakes 
and storms, have been felt, but all united have not hurled it from 
its foundation. Its spire still points heavenward; the mariner, 
on his homeward bound voyage, coming up from the waste of wa- 
ters, l)eholds it reflecting the sunbeams of the morning ; and the 
departing mariner's eye lingers on it till it is lost in the gorgeous 
glories of the settling twilight. A long line of illustrious pat- 
riots and Christians are heralded in its archives. A noble group 
of preachers arc seen thi'ough the stcrcopticou of its records. 



32 

Parsous, the eloquent writer and graceful speaker, first broke 
the silence of the new temple ; and Whitefield's* eloquent words 
here found utterance, whose silvery voice ravished the ears of his 
auditors; from his lips was distilled the nectar that was balsam 
to the soul. Gather around yonder cenotaph, and read there, deep 
chiselled in marble the works of this Christian hero ; tlien draw 
near to the vault beneath the desk, and look down upon the dust 
of one whose matchless eloquence thrilled the bosom of the inhab- 
itants of two hemispheres; and yonder, behold the mansion from 
whence he was caught up to perfect his eloquence with the white 
robed ones in another state. Need I tell you, that on the Sab- 
bath morning he was to preach in this temple, where a multi- 
tude had gathered to listen to his teachings, the death angel came 
and bore him away to join in the services of the upper sanctuary. 
Sudden was his exit from time ; he died, — but his name will de- 
scend and be embalmed in the hearts of m.any of the race. 

And Murray followed, and though speaking the dialect of the 
land of the shamrock, nevertlieless he breathed into the souls of 
his hearers a living enthusiasm ; he drew them along by the mel- 
lowing influence of his words and actions from off the turbulent 
ocean of sin and sorrow into the placid stream of salvation. He 
was gifted by nature with oratorical powers rarely excelled, and 
those powers brought into exercise, fitted him for a commanding 
position in the station he filled. And Prince, the blind preacher, 
who sometimes, also, occupied the dcsk.withhis sightless eye-balls 
turned skyward, whilst his voice reverberated around the tem- 
ple, burdened with the song of redeeming love. He lies with 
Parsons and Whitefield, in the vault beneath. And Dana, whose 
purity of language was Addisonian ; whose reasoning powers 
were rarely surpassed, and whose sympathetic nature felt for 
others' woes, to his own injury. Venerable with years, he has 
but just now laid off his earthly robes and gone to join his prede- 
cessors. Peace to his ashes, xind Williams, the close reasoner 
and ready debater. Proudfit, the chaste scholar. Stearns, 
whose voice charmed by its musical intonation, And Vermilye, 
the present incumbent, whose flowing periods and soeial disposi- 

*Though not settled here, but whose efforts T\"ere du'cctcd towards founding 
this church. 



33 

tion have begotten, in the bosom of his parishioners, a lasting 
remembrance. 

Others there are who have gone out from this parish who 
have phinted the standard of the eross under every zone, and 
pointed darkened minds to the radiating glories of the Sun of 
Righteousness in the jungles of India; on the deserts of Africa: 
where the North star blazes along and where the Southern 
Cross flashes, has been heard the song that first broke the still- 
ness of night on the plains of Bethlehem, at the advent of our 
common savior. Statesmen, whose eloquence has enchained lis- 
tening multitudes, whose counsels liave helped rear and sustain 
the beautiful edifice of our republic. Poets, whose measured 
numbers have found an echo from the tongues of lisping infants 
and hoary age. Scholars, whose profound researches have ena- 
bled them to ascend tlie pyramid of knowledge, and from thence 
scattered broadcast on the mind like the dews of the morn- 
ing, the beauties of science. Physicians, whose skill in the 
healing art has been productive of good to humanity. Lawyers, 
whose legal knowledge was unsurpassed. Mariners, who have 
ploughed with the keel of their bark every ocean, and whitened 
with their canvass every navigable sea and river on the globe. 
Mcrcliants, wliose marts arc planted wherever human feet tread. 
Mechanics of every name, wliose skill and handiwork are ac- 
knowledged where science is appreciated. Nor is it confined to 
one sex. The timid female wlio naturally shrinks from the 
world, has been enabled to throw from licr tlic endearments of 
home life to go out on missions of mercy, to visit other lands, 
to bring the outcasts of the race into the fold of humanity, visit- 
ing dungeons wliero the poor forsaken of man has been cheered 
by her presence and pointed to a better morrow ; when his 
chains would fall from his manrtcled limbs, imitating the good 
Samaritan ; and visiting hospitals, moistening with tlieir tears 
the burning brow of fevered ones, softly and tenderly binding 
up ghastly wounds and pillowing the dying head, and whisper- 
ing in the ear the glorious prospect of an immortality beyond. 
Indeed they are and have been the wingless angels of the race. 
The Athenians boasted of their Areopagus, where their Demos- 
thenes and Cicero swayed all minds ; that was indeed classic 
ground, but they looked only at the alTairs of state. Our Arc- 



34 

opagus, where our orators displayed their eloquence, rises im- 
measurably higher, because the interest of another state after 
this mortal coil has been shuffled off, — was the tlieme. No 
other society has a better record none from whose altar went forth 
such matchless eloquence as from ours. But time presses and I 
must close. Allow me to make a few remarks to the venerable 
fathers and mothers who are before me. Venerable ones, you 
are links in the chain of the past ; descended as you have from 
a glorious ancestry, you must appreciate your position this eve- 
ning. You have travelled long on the road to the other shore ; 
now sunshine, then storms has been your allotment ; now all 
weary and faint, perhaps, by the long march, you are looking 
forward to the land where age and decrepitude, and sin and sor- 
row are not known. And while you are tabernacled here, place 
a light in the window for your descendants, that they may be 
o-uided by it to the same home whither you are tending. As 
your shadows are lengthened beyond many of those who have 
gone before you, we trust when your sun goes down it will be in 
a cloudless sky, gentle zephyrs whispering the songs of the im- 
mortals into your dying ears, and the illuminating rays of the 
sun of righteousness striking your vision when your eyes close 
upon the scenes of the natural world. Tread, then, softly the 
remainder of the way ; rest assured we will bear you on our 
memories, and keep the recollection of your virtues green in 
our affections. 

To the ladies and gentlemen of the association whose organ I 
am on this occasion, I cannot close without a word to you. Surely 
this association has merits that ought not to be overlooked. 
You are a congregation of brethren and sisters, travelling the 
same road to another state, — each of you in your day's march 
pitching your tent nearer to the goal. It is meet and proper 
that you give each other the right hand of fellowship and love. 
It is meet that kindly greetings should be in the ascendant. 
What matters it when you approach that river to which you 
must be borne by the death angel, whether your neighbor fared 
sumptuously or the reverse ? What matters it whether he was 
sheltered in a costly mansion with all the appliances which 
wealth could furnish, or whether he was houseless, save by the 
blue dome above him ? What matters it all. when weighed in 



35 

the balance of goodness? for when the possessor of wealth ap- 
proaches that river he is stripped of all of earth as well as the 
most indigent: and, think you, that the life angel will not catch up 
and bear on his pinions the poor and humble as well as the most 
renowned ? AH distinctions perish here. The poor, forlorn 
one who steals humbly, to be unobserved, into the sanctuary, — 
whose faded dress bespeaks her poverty, who seeks a low place, 
caring not if so be she can gather manna from the altar to nour- 
ish her on her way. Think you her name will not stand as 
prominent on the records of the upper sanctuary, as those who 
rustle in silks and are bedizened with diamonds ; aye, indeed, 
full as high. Then cheer each other by the way, smooth the pil- 
lows of sickness, watch by the side of the dying, become good 
Samaritans to the wounded, and think it no disgrace to visit the 
lowly habitations of the poor. The recording angel is there, 
and he will note all those acts of kindness and love, and high 
up on the records of eternity will your name stand. " Inasmuch 
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, 
ye have done it unto me." Let this be your motto, Love one 
another. 

Finally, let the old church stand ; let it bear the blasts of 
time ; let it stand the sun's earliest beams, and the lingering twi- 
light be reflected upon it ; let the stars of night look down up- 
on, and the blazing comet, shooting atwhart the milky way, shed 
over it a halo of glory ; let the silver beams of the moon rest 
upon it for generations to come. Let it stand, and unborn gen- 
erations shall press their way hither to receive the mantles of 
the fathers as they ascend ; let it stand, a guide-post to the weary 
pilgrim to the other land ; let it stand to bless future genera- 
tions ; and when the angel, whose employ it will be to wing his 
way through the waste of air and proclaim to the living and 
dead that time is no longer, — then let the old sanctuary perish, 
" with the wreck of matter and the crash of worlds."' 



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